Drew Edmondson's Legacy

Drew Edmondson, an Oklahoma native and the current Attorney General of his home state, was re-elected a record four times. He decided to shoot for the governor's office most recently, but was defeated by Republican Mary Fallin.

Law Job Star
Drew Edmondson’s Legacy
By Donna McGill
When Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson opted not to run for another term, he knew he’d be passing on the torch of a
years-long battle with poultry companies, including Tyson Foods, to whoever his successor would be. His goal was to keep at least
thirteen poultry companies from polluting Oklahoma’s waters. Learn more about the AG Edmondson and what his plans are now that
he’s looking forward to days out of the AG’s office.
Drew Edmondson, an Oklahoma native companies named in the lawsuit. Pruitt has assured the media
and the current Attorney General of his and his supporters that he will approach it with fairness in
home state, was re-elected a record mind.
four times. He decided to shoot for the
governor’s office most recently, but was Edmondson also joined with at least fourteen Republican
defeated by Republican Mary Fallin. Attorney Generals when they came together in late 2009 to
While his time in office wasn’t without question President Obama’s health care reform legislation.
controversy, he made his mark with They questioned the constitutionality as well as the provisions
many positive changes for his state. in the Senate’s version of the bill. Further, he reiterated
One of those efforts includes an on- his support if and when lawsuits were filed, specifically
going lawsuit in which he sought to stop any that included Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s deal
poultry producers from dumping waste with Nebraska. The agreement would give Nebraska certain
into the Illinois River watershed. After years, at least five at exemptions from Medicaid expansions that would cost the
this point, of court battles, in 2009, a federal appeals court federal government (read: taxpayers) more than $100,000
agreed to hear arguments. Edmondson named 13 poultry over the next decade.
companies, all out of Arkansas, in his lawsuit.
So what’s in story for Edmondson now? It’s likely he will go
His claims included they were polluting the water and said into private practice, which is what he was doing prior to
Tyson Foods was one of the biggest contributors to this entering the political arena in the mid 1990s. He remains
pollution. Each winter and spring, these companies continued a member in good standing with the Oklahoma state bar,
to dump massive amounts of animal waste (this is when the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Council and also served as
they cleaned out thousands of poultry houses) and with President for the National Association of Attorneys General
each passing year, Edmondson insisted it was only growing between 2002 and 2003.
worse. Each year, too, summer would follow, complete with
swimmers, skiers and campers. Unfortunately, the cases He will continue to live with his wife in Muskogee, Oklahoma
remain unresolved. The new AG, Scott Pruitt, is already raising and says he looks forward to taking a step out of the spotlight
questions since it’s come to light his acceptance of thousands for a while. Those who know him, however, say it’s not likely
of dollars in campaign funds from several of the poultry he’ll remain out of that light for long.
PAGE www.lawcrossing.com